Mario Sali was back in a cage with two tigers yesterday to protest at the planning authority’s failure to find an alternative site for his circus, Circo Fantasy.

Mr Sali was ordered by the development watchdog to dismantle his circus from Naxxar on Tuesday after a 30-day permit expired but two days of talks to find a solution went nowhere. The big tent was pulled down and shows were stopped.

He had already conducted a seven-hour protest with the tigers on Wednesday but called it off after the Maltese promoter said discussions would be held with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

Speaking inside the cage, Mr Sali said an idea to move to Blata l-Bajda was abandoned after bus operator Arriva objected to the use of the park-and-ride facility.

“I don’t want charity. All I want is to work and I hope that some heavenly saint or some minister arranges this situation,” Mr Sali said.

The circus owner has police and veterinary permits to operate until January 6 but Mepa regulations say that temporary structures have to be dismantled after 30 days.

The promoters tried arguing to no avail that the regulations do not prohibit the same structures being erected again after the expiry of the first period.

At the time of going to print, Mr Sali was still in the cage with two tigers, including a 300 kilogramme Siberian tiger.